Rovers have appealed the decision not to grant Rovers Ladies a spot in the revamped Women’s Championship for 2018/19.

It was revealed last month that Rovers, winners of the FA Women’s Northern Premier Division, were not one of the 12 sides to make up the second tier of women’s football next season.

The newly-formed Manchester United ladies team were admitted to the league as were Leicester City who finished second in Rovers’ division.  

Gemma Donnelly’s side won the Women’s Northern Premier Division title for a second successive year, but were beaten by the southern area winners, Charlton, at Bramall Lane in the play-off final.

They fell at the same hurdle in 2016/17 when they were beaten by Tottenham Hotspur.

Rovers had applied to be part of the Championship but missed out, with the club taking the decision to appeal.

A club statement read: “The club can confirm that it has appealed against the decision not to award Blackburn Rovers Ladies with a licence to participate in the second tier of professional women's football next season.

“Gemma Donnelly's side have been crowned FA Women's Premier League Northern Division champions for the past two seasons, but saw their application to enter the newly-formed Women's Championship turned down.

“Disappointed at the decision, the club have now officially lodged an appeal with The Women’s Football Board.

“Rovers' appeal will now be considered by an independent panel, who will decide whether the initial outcome should be overturned.

“The club will provide a further update in due course.”

Rovers won an historic treble last season having lifted the Women’s Premier League Cup and Lancashire County Cup, as well as the league title.

Next season, new rules brought in by the FA mean the winners of the Northern Premier Division, which Rovers have won in the last two season, will earn automatic promotion and not face a play-off.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph last month, Donnelly said: “Personally I was so disappointed to be refused and rejected. I have seen the reasons why and I don’t think that they are sufficient or justified

“I think it was probably more to accommodate those that they had let in so I do feel hard done by personally.

“I don’t think there was much more we could have done to get a place.”